CSEA unhappy with prison call center

New York’s Dept of Motor Vehicles earlier this week announced it had expanded its prison call center to the Greene County Correctional Facility.
While state officials touted the savings that come with having inmates handle information requests to the DMV, the union that represents some non-imprisoned call-takers who are presumably competing with the prisoners.
(The inmate program isn’t really new — what the Dept. of Corrections and Community Supervision did was move the call center from the now-closed Arthur Kill prison in New York City to Greene Co. There has also been a call center at the Bedford Hills prison for women).

Here is the response from Civil Service Employees Association President Danny Donohue:

“While not a new program, using prisoners to do the work of Department of Motor
Vehicle employees is a bad idea generally and even worse considering the current economy.
At a time when thousands of New York families are struggling to find jobs and pay their bills,
New York State has decided to help prisoners develop “marketable skills” rather than make
appropriate and necessary jobs available to law abiding citizens who would then pay their
taxes, spend their paychecks and contribute in the local community. CSEA can only remain
skeptical about claims of taxpayer savings from this scheme when security and close
supervision costs are considered.”
“It’s another swipe at public employees by equating the work of hard working, responsible and
dedicated employees with incarcerated criminals in the public’s mind.”

And the release from DMV and the Dept. of Corrections and Community Supervision: